La Crosse Community Theatre announced its 2016-2017 season on April 2 at its annual Patron Gala Fundraiser.

“It is always exciting to finally talk about what we have been working on since the first of the year,” shared David Kilpatrick, LCT’s executive director.”Creating a season is like putting together a puzzle without the picture on the cover. You don’t know what it will look like, but it’s a lot of fun and the result is always a joy,” Artistic Director Greg Parmeter added.

The 2016-2017 season has 9 shows, including 4 musicals and 2 special offerings in the Veterans Studio Theatre. Every production will be an LCT debut, although many of the plots will be familiar to audiences.

The season opens with Sister Act, by Bill and Sheri Steinkellner, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater. The story will be familiar to audiences who remember the hit movie starring Whoopi Goldberg.

The fall comedy will be a new perspective on the story of a little boy who didn’t grow up. Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barker, is based on the novel by comedian Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. The production, suitable for the whole family, includes pirates, stardust and a lot of fun for everyone.

LCT’s holiday production is a familiar one, but done only as LCT can do it, as if you were watching the making of a radio show: A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play. “We have a lot of fun, and our audiences really enjoy the experience with live radio plays,” said Kilpatrick. This production will follow in the footsteps of Playhouse on the Air Presents: Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.

In conjunction with the holiday show, LCT will present a production suitable for mature elves only.The Santaland Diaries, by nationally known comedian David Sedaris and adapted by Joe Mantello, will star LCT actor and storyteller Michael Scott. This production will be in collaboration with The Pump House Regional Arts Center, with performances held at the Pump House and in the Weber Center’s Veterans Studio Theatre. The show opens at the Pump House on Black Friday.

In January, LCT will present one of the best-known French comedies, The Misanthrope, by Moliere, in the Veterans Studio Theatre. “Exploring a language play that is funny and still apropos to 21st century audiences is part of LCT’s goal of expanding theatrical literacy,” said Kilpatrick.

New this season will be a spring musical, Xanadu, the story of a boy who dreams of opening his own roller disco. Based on the movie by the same name, the stage version is a delightful escape into the 1980s.

LCT’s biggest musical of the season will be the 1997 Tony Award-winning Titanic: The Musical, with story and book by Peter Stone and music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. Although many are familiar with the story, the music and characters in this production are musical masterpieces that will inspire all.

Once again LCT will present a Theatre for Youth musical, with performers between the ages of 8 and 18. Disney’s Aladdin Jr., based on the hit Disney film, will be a special experience for all participants, performers and audiences.

Finally, LCT’s children’s touring show will be The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats, by Jerome Hairston, based on the books by Ezra Jack Keats. This production will travel to area schools, bringing theatre to young audiences throughout the Coulee Region. Performances also will be in the Veterans Studio Theatre.

“As LCT has done since 1964, our 2016-2017 season will continue to provide a little something for everyone,” said Kilpatrick.

Season tickets are now available, with an early bird discount through June 15, 2016. The Lyche Theatre Package, which includes tickets to five main stage shows, will be $112/$124. A Six-Pack Flex Package will be $137. The additional Veterans Studio shows will be $22 when ordered along with a season ticket.

Single ticket prices will be $9 for youth productions, $23-$27 for non-musicals and $25-$29 for musicals. Student and military prices will be $15 and $10, respectively, with ID required (plus $2 for musicals). Patron donors may reserve seats beginning April 10, and season ticket holders may do so two weeks before the public for each production.

LCT is excited to partner with La Crosse Dance Centre in a joyful celebration of dance and theatre for students with disabilities. This FREE, one-day workshop includes:

• A 2-HOUR DANCE CLASS
• A TOUR OF THE WEBER CENTER
• A MEET-AND-GREET WITH CAST MEMBERS*
• 1 TICKET TO SEE BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL*

Each participant will be paired with a trained dance mentor. Participant and mentor will dance together, learning a portion of the dream ballet sequence from the show. There are no physical limitations to participation.This program is a chance for students, parents and mentors to experiencea day of fun, freedom, and theatre through dance.

If you are interested, please contact Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha
at 608-784-9292, ext. *320, or by email at
sarapw@lacrossecommunitytheatre.org

*Both the meet-and-greet and performance of Billy Elliot will be on
May 14, 2016, regardless of which class students attend.

LCT is pleased to announce the cast list for the national community theatre debut of Billy Elliot, which opens Friday, May 13, 2016 and continues Thursdays through Sundays until May 29. Tickets go on sale April 25, 2016. For more information about the production, click here For the the complete cast list, click here.

“We changed the format this year because we felt our patrons would appreciate the announcement of the new season right on the stage where the shows are performed,” said LCT Executive Director David Kilpatrick.

The event will begin with a cash bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres at 5:30. Presentations, along with the announcement of the 2016-2017 season, will begin at 6:00. Entertainment will include a sneak of Billy Elliot and a peek at Stuart Little and live music from the ensemble “Under Paris Skies.”

Another highlight of the evening will be the announcement of the winner of the Travel Escape Raffle. The grand prize is a $5,000 travel voucher made available by Travel Leaders/Goli’s Avenues of Travel, and the second-place prize is two LCT Lyche Theatre Package season tickets. Raffle tickets are available from any LCT board member, a member of the Rotary Club of La Crosse East or by calling the LCT box office.

Gala fundraiser tickets are $50, which includes a $25 donation, and are available at here or by calling the box office at 608-784-9292.

La Crosse Community Theatre will hold auditions for the national community theatre premiere of the musical Billy Elliot March 14-16, 2016, at 7 p.m. at Weber Center for the Performing Arts, 428 Front Street South, La Crosse, WI. Auditions for ages 8 to 15 will be on Monday, and open auditions will be on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In the spirit of the story, first-time auditionees are welcome, with no experience necessary. All actors are asked to prepare a 30-second song from a musical or movie. An accompanist will be provided. There will also be a dance audition. Call-backs will be held on Thursday, March 17. There are 20-30 roles available for men and women ages 16 and up. The youth roles of Billy, Michael, Debbie, and the ballet girls will be double cast. For details about roles available, please click here.

Billy Elliot features music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, and is based on the Universal Pictures/Studio Canal Film. Billy is a coal miner’s son in northern England. With his father out on strike, the Elliot family is falling apart. Billy’s life is forever changed when he stumbles out of a boxing ring and into a ballet class. He trades in his gloves for slippers and discovers a passion for dance that inspires and unites the entire town. Billy Elliot is the triumphant story of a young boy’s fight to heal his family and chase his dreams! The play is rated Theatre PG because it contains some adult language and situations.

Performance are Thursdays through Sundays, May 13-29, 2016. The cast list will be announced on the morning show of WXOW on Friday, March 18, as well as online and on the stage door. The first cast meeting will be that evening at 7 p.m. at the Weber Center for the Performing Arts. Rehearsals are scheduled for Mondays through Fridays. For more information, call 784-9292 and sign up to audition!

LCT is pleased to announce the cast list for spring comedy, Boeing Boeing, which opens Friday, March 11, 2016 and continues Thursdays through Sundays until March 20. Tickets go on sale February 22, 2016. For more information about the production, click here For the the complete cast list, click here.

Roles are available for 4 women and 2 men. No preparations are required, as auditionees will be asked to read. Anyone over 18 is eligible regardless of experience or training.

Boeing Boeing by Marc Camoletti, translated by Beverly Cross and Francis Evans is the story of Bernard a swinging bachelor in 1960s Paris who is engaged to three different women, all stewardesses for different airlines. His carefully scheduled routine flies out the window, however, when all of his fiancées are grounded in Paris on the same night! Bernard enlists the help of his housekeeper and hapless friend Robert to maintain the charade as he strives to keep each woman happy . . . and in the dark. The play is rated Theatre PG-13.

Performance are Thursdays through Sundays, March 11- 20, The cast list will be announced on the morning show of WXOW on Friday, January 27, as well as online and on the stage door. The first cast meeting will be that evening at 7 p.m. at the Weber Center for the Performing Arts. Rehearsals are scheduled for Mondays through Thursdays. For more information call 784-9292 and sign up to audition!

La Crosse Community Theatre will present the Coulee Region Improv and Sketch Festival Thursday through Saturday, January 21 to 23, 2016, with unique performances nightly at 7 p.m. at Weber Center for the Performing Arts, 428 Front Street South, La Crosse, WI. Workshops will take place on Saturday.

This year’s ensembles will include La Crosse favorites The Webernauts, Heart of La Crosse, License to Krill; the Minneapolis troupe Horseface, and Glassworks Improv from Eau Claire. Other troupes include White Out, Monkey Business Institute, Half-Masted, Square Wheels, One Night Stand, Reservoir Frogs, as well as special guest troupes from Viterbo University, Northern Iowa University, and local teens.

Improvisation is a theatrical form that celebrates spontaneity and is fun for performers and audience members. It is on-the-spot story-telling, with no planning or script, usually with minimal props and sets. An example is the popular television show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”

LCT is pleased to announce the cast list for our Veterans Studio Theatre production, Wit, which opens Thursday, February 11, 2016 and continues Wednesdays through Sundays until February 28 with special Saturday matinees added as there are only 99 seats in the theatre. Tickets go on sale January 25. 2017. For the complete cast list, click here.